The Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning School (École Supérieure d’Architecture des Jardins), which has just turned 53, is one of the oldest Landscape Architecture Schools in France. Based in Paris, it is registered as an association.

Destabilized by the creation of the new “Diplôme d’État de Paysagiste” (literally: State certified Landscape Architect), then by the 2016 regulation making the “paysagiste concepteur” title  official, ESAJ continues its efforts to be part of the club of public schools giving access to both. The introduction of a 5 year diploma in 2022 falls under that objective.

As the only private institution for landscape designers/architects, like the École Spéciale d’Architecture (a private school for architecture), ESAJ is in an unusual place to lead the training of a new generation of landscape designers/architects at a critical time when the global “climate and environmental emergency” requires making cities greener and more resilient.

There are three former ESAJ graduates working at STUDIO MUGO today and this is one of the reasons why Mugo founders decided to support the association through corporate sponsorship so it could carry out its development projects. The appointment of landscaper Gilles Clement as chairman of the board reflects this new direction.